“We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We’ve got better stuff to do," said Obama.

The surprise release follows recent and sustained remarks by businessman Donald Trump, among others, that raised doubts as to whether the president was born in the United States.

“Over the last two and half years, I have watched with amusement. I have been puzzled with the degree with which this thing just kept going,” Obama told reporters Wednesday.
Responding to the development, Trump said, "I have accomplished something nobody else has accomplished."

"I want to look at it, but I hope it’s true," he told reporters in New Hampshire. "He should have done it a long time ago. I am really honored to have played such a big role in hopefully getting rid of this issue."

In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper Monday, Trump repeated his doubts and said he had been told the certificate was "missing."

A new CNN investigation revealed earlier this week what most analysts have been saying since the "birther" controversy erupted during the 2008 presidential campaign: Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961.

While the president has made light of the controversy, the question remained political red meat for some of his critics. A recent CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll showed that nearly 75% of Americans believe Obama was definitely or probably born in the United States. More than four in 10 Republicans, however, believe he probably or definitely was not born in America.

The U.S. Constitution says only "natural born" citizens can become president - a vague clause that some members of the birther movement contend disqualifies Obama because, they insist, he was born outside the United States.

Skeptics contend, among other things, that Obama was born in his father's home country of Kenya.

soundoff(1,207 Responses)

Banner Kidd

Where is it? Show it to us and let it be held up to the same scrutiny as any other person's document. Will it be heavily redacted or will we be able to see the relevant info about parentage, etc? And will anybody ask the serious question as to why it took 2 years to do this? And furthermore, will he now release his other records, college, etc (I don't care about baptismal records, they don't mean much anyway), just as other presidents have done. We have no released history to verify the qualifications of BHO. I doubt that CNN would hire a correspondent who wouldn't supply corroboration for the work and education history that he put on his resume. BHO works for the people, he, nor any other president is a king. We fought a war to rid ourselves of the tyranny of a man's crown. Now that you guys have sufficiently stalled long enough to whatever obfuscation is about to take place, I pray the truth will be easily seen. Either way, this president is not a good president. Neither was GW Bush, nor Clinton, nor Bush the First. All are an inbred political family who plays good cop/bad cop with the American people. Neither party cares one whit about the law and the constitution. They rely on the media and entertainment industry keeping the people lulled by their pastimes so the plan to oppress and merchandise can move forward. I ask that you all give we the people the opportunity to hear ALL candidates this election cycle. Don't freeze out Ron Paul. We need more choices than one in two!

April 27, 2011 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

CJ

Oh no, what will Donald Trump complain about now?

April 27, 2011 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

kh99

Won't make any difference. The conspiracy nuts will say it was faked somehow.

April 27, 2011 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

Easton

That's not a real birth certificate like the one the hospital gives you. I don't believe it.

April 27, 2011 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

Phil

If Donald is going to run for President, I think we need to make sure he is a USA citizen. I want to see his birth certificate. Maybe we need to see every candidates birth certificate. you never can be sure with those politicians you know.

April 27, 2011 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

David

Okay now that we got that out of the way, let's get on to something important like jobs and rising gas prices. Our government is a joke.

April 27, 2011 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

FatSean

So tired of the non-competative white trash whiners. He's legit, get over it. Now try to find someone better than Trump to run for your abortion-stopping, Jesus-forcing, war-mongering, military-worshiping base of degenerate families.

April 27, 2011 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

Justsayin

I mean, I am not trying to say it's not real....but can you trust that a government that has lied to it's own people countless times can't come up with a birth certificate, i can order one for 10$ from the state any day of the week, guess who runs the states.....

April 27, 2011 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

FedUpWithPeopleWhoAreMadABlackManIsInCharge

now Trump and other racist assholes can shut the phuck up!! You all didn't do it to the previous Presidents' all of a sudden NOW you want to see a birth certificate.....really??? EASY WIN FOR DEMOCRATS IN 2012!!!!

April 27, 2011 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

Tom R

OK Rethuglicans, what now? Maybe Obama isn't Black? I bet Trump is really sitting back today – worried about gas prices, hopefully his company won't go under so he'll keep his job, hopefully my check this week will cover my car payment, yada yada yada... So out of touch, always out of touch...

April 27, 2011 09:10 am at 9:10 am |

tippie

Sarah... what???? Who cares????!!!I CARE! It's against the law for anyone who is not born in the U.S. to become president. Don't you care if your president is a liar and is breaking the law? Nevermind, you're probably the reason Mr. Hopey Changey is in office. Now, go back to watching General Hospital and don't worry your pretty little head over things like this.

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

Chester the Jester

Awww..... Those birthers were REALLY funny! Although this probably won't stop them. It probably won't even slow them down. The real issue is what will they do now with their spare time? Trump has to be an alien with that hair....

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

Dave

It won't help – Republicans, especially Tea Party members, don't care about facts.

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

Geoff

Sarah it mattered because a person not born in the usa cannot be president even if they are a u.s. citizen – thus saith the constitution.

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

Paul

It's about time. How hard was that? He should have just released it instead of making people think there was something to hide.

And by the way, you are required to produce a birth certificate to get a driver's license or passport? Then you should be required to produce one before you can run for President.

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

the situation

It doesn't matter, those crazy birthers and that racist Trump will still say it's a fake. But now, time for the racist to show is stuff, since he said if Obama showed his birth cert, he will show is tax returns. I highly doubt that since he show something that wasn't is true birth cert already.

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

LindaB

WAY too late, obama, you are OUT!! Your total disrespect for the American People will GUARANTEE your LOSS at ANY and A:LL elections!! Start packin, because the American People are FIRING YOU! Your reign of arrogant, disrespect, for the people that you WORK FOR, is inexcusable, and there is exactly NOTHING that you can do or say now to change the American People's opinion of you.

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

Judy

I'm sure its a fake. Back to more important things like fixing our economy or wars in the middle east.

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

Dan

to quote sarah, "Who cares if the President was born in the US" there is a little thing we call the CONSTITUTION?????
take a look sometime....

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

Publius Novus

Okay, now turnabout is fair play. For all those who have challenged the birth certificate, we to the left of center would like confirmation that those to the right of center are indeed citizens. This documentation will be required before any further votes are cast.

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

JojoB

Come on CNN, show the bloody photo in high-res already! With this issue out of the way, Trump has no platform to run on anymore. :)

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

independent's response to Sarah

Because we have something called laws in this country... The presidency isn't exactly something we American's take lightly.

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

Solace

While I don’t agree he should have to release it, I feel this is the right move as the “birther” issue was becoming a bothersome cancer on civil discourse. With any luck this will actually help move the country forward. Additionally, anyone who continues to press on this after the fact should be exposed as a willful disruptor and henceforth ignored outright.

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

borntobepolitical

OKAY, let's see it!

April 27, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |

jwalt

Oh good, now we can focus on really important matters that truly affect the future of our nation. Like the 24/7 news coverage of the Royal Wedding.